Kaduna Bombings: Babangida Reacts

Following the bombing involving General Mohammadu Buhari in Kaduna, his colleague, former head of state General Ibrahim Babangida has spoken out against the growing insurgency by the Islamic terrorist sect, Boko Haram The former head of state released a statement saying that the menace of the sect is unacceptable and it must stop, while also urging Nigerians to pray for the leaders as they make efforts to arrest the escalating issue of Boko Haram He said, “To state the least, this bloodletting must stop. This bloodletting has to stop. It is callous and inhuman for anyone to goad this country on the path of perfidy, a path that is laid with landmines and bombs. This is totally unacceptable.” He also empathized with President Jonathan and , saying, “Let me also condole with Mr. President on this unfortunate incident and the recurring decimal of insecurity and crime against humanity that is fast polluting public morality. We all must join hands with Mr. President at this critical time of our national history and democratic journey to proffer solutions to this anti-development scenario that is fast enveloping us.” “Even as I sympathise with my colleague, former president, General Mohammadu Buhari, for escaping the bomber’s scalpel, I also wish to condole with the families of those who lost their lives in this attack. It is frightening and calls for condemnation by all well-meaning people of Nigeria. We all must rise above partisanship in our condemnation of this state of insecurity, as we all must be united in our clear-cut resolve to finding solutions to this hydra-headed situation we find ourselves. “I have sat back in my quiet retirement home in Minna to ponder over what could be the motivation for these several attacks, but I am yet to find any explanation why Nigerians would be killing fellow Nigerians. For those of us who fought the civil war, our painful sense of nostalgia still remains deep, as much as our patriotic attitude towards this great country, Nigeria. These wanton killings and needless bloodletting have continued to retard our growth and democratic journey, forcing the system to improvise all manners of mechanisms to arrest this descent to anarchy. “The president and our governors need our prayers at various stages of their leadership to arrest this ugly trend. Nigeria of our dream is one that provides opportunity for all irrespective of our cultural and political differences; a nation that comprises several nation-states with abundant resources and opportunities for our flourishing population. We must, therefore, be resolute in our collective reasoning and determination to trudge on despite these obvious setbacks to safely paddle the ship of state to a safe harbour.”